50 bab ballads(50篇巴布歌谣)-第13章
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beneath the frondage of an elderberry tree； And ANNIE'S simple prattle
entertained him on his walk； For public executions formed the subject of
her talk。
And sometimes he'd explain to her； which charmed her very much；
How famous operators vary very much in touch； And then； perhaps； he'd
show how he himself performed the trick； And illustrate his meaning with
a poppy and a stick。
Or； if it rained； the little maid would stop at home； and look At his
favourable notices； all pasted in a book； And then her cheek would flush her
swimming eyes would dance with joy In a glow of admiration at the
prowess of her boy。
One summer eve； at supper…time； the gentle GILBERT said （As he
helped his pretty ANNIE to a slice of collared head）； 〃This reminds me I
must settle on the next ensuing day The hash of that unmitigated villain
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
He saw his ANNIE tremble and he saw his ANNIE start； Her changing
colour trumpeted the flutter at her heart； Young GILBERT'S manly bosom
rose and sank with jealous fear； And he said； 〃O gentle ANNIE； what's the
meaning of this here？〃
And ANNIE answered； blushing in an interesting way； 〃You think； no
doubt； I'm sighing for that felon PETER GRAY： That I was his young
woman is unquestionably true； But not since I began a…keeping company
with you。〃
Then GILBERT； who was irritable； rose and loudly swore He'd know
the reason why if she refused to tell him more； And she answered （all the
woman in her flashing from her eyes） 〃You mustn't ask no questions； and
you won't be told no lies！
〃Few lovers have the privilege enjoyed； my dear； by you； Of chopping
off a rival's head and quartering him too！ Of vengeance； dear； to…morrow
you will surely take your fill！〃 And GILBERT ground his molars as he
answered her； 〃I will！〃
Young GILBERT rose from table with a stern determined look； And；
frowning； took an inexpensive hatchet from its hook； And ANNIE
watched his movements with an interested air … For the morrow … for the
morrow he was going to prepare！
He chipped it with a hammer and he chopped it with a bill； He poured
sulphuric acid on the edge of it； until This terrible Avenger of the Majesty
of Law Was far less like a hatchet than a dissipated saw。
And ANNIE said； 〃O GILBERT； dear； I do not understand Why ever
you are injuring that hatchet in your hand？' He said； 〃It is intended for to
lacerate and flay The neck of that unmitigated villain PETER GRAY！〃
〃Now； GILBERT；〃 ANNIE answered； 〃wicked headsman； just beware
…I won't have PETER tortured with that horrible affair； If you appear with
that； you may depend you'll rue the day。〃 But GILBERT said； 〃Oh； shall
I？〃 which was just his nasty way。
He saw a look of anger from her eyes distinctly dart； For ANNIE was a
woman； and had pity in her heart！ She wished him a good evening … he
answered with a glare； She only said； 〃Remember； for your ANNIE will be
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
* * * * * * * *
The morrow GILBERT boldly on the scaffold took his stand； With a
vizor on his face and with a hatchet in his hand； And all the people noticed
that the Engine of the Law Was far less like a hatchet than a dissipated
saw。
The felon very coolly loosed his collar and his stock； And placed his
wicked head upon the handy little block。 The hatchet was uplifted for to
settle PETER GRAY； When GILBERT plainly heard a woman's voice
exclaiming； 〃Stay！〃
'Twas ANNIE； gentle ANNIE； as you'll easily believe。 〃O GILBERT；
you must spare him； for I bring him a reprieve； It came from our Home
Secretary many weeks ago； And passed through that post…office which I
used to keep at Bow。
〃I loved you； loved you madly； and you know it； GILBERT CLAY；
And as I'd quite surrendered all idea of PETER GRAY； I quietly
suppressed it； as you'll clearly understand； For I thought it might be
awkward if he came and claimed my hand。
〃In anger at my secret （which I could not tell before）； To lacerate poor
PETER GRAY vindictively you swore； I told you if you used that blunted
axe you'd rue the day； And so you will； young GILBERT； for I'll marry
PETER GRAY！〃
＇AND SO SHE DID。
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
E
LIKENESS。
I'VE painted SHAKESPEARE all my life … 〃An infant〃 （even then at
〃play〃！） 〃A boy；〃 with stage…ambition rife； Then 〃Married to ANN
HATHAWAY。〃
〃The bard's first ticket night〃 （or 〃ben。〃）； His 〃First appearance on the
stage；〃 His 〃Call before the curtain〃 … then 〃Rejoicings when he came of
age。〃
The bard play…writing in his room； The bard a humble lawyer's clerk。
The bard a lawyer （3） … parson （4） … groom （5） … The bard deer…stealing；
after dark。
The bard a tradesman （6） … and a Jew （7） … The bard a botanist （8） … a
beak （9） … The bard a skilled musician （10） too … A sheriff （11） and a
surgeon （12） eke！
Yet critics say （a friendly stock） That； though it's evident I try； Yet
even I can barely mock The glimmer of his wondrous eye！
One morning as a work I framed； There passed a person； walking hard：
〃My gracious goodness；〃 I exclaimed； 〃How very like my dear old bard！
〃Oh； what a model he would make！〃 I rushed outside … impulsive me！ 〃
Forgive the liberty I take； But you're so very〃 … 〃Stop！〃 said he。
〃You needn't waste your breath or time； … I know what you are going to
say； … That you're an artist； and that I'm Remarkably like SHAKESPEARE。
Eh？
〃You wish that I would sit to you？〃 I clasped him madly round the
waist； And breathlessly replied； 〃I do！〃 〃All right；〃 said he； 〃but please
make haste。〃
I led him by his hallowed sleeve； And worked away at him apace； I
painted him till dewy eve； … There never was a nobler face！
〃Oh； sir；〃 I said； 〃a fortune grand Is yours； by dint of merest chance； To
sport HIS brow at second…hand； To wear HIS cast…off countenance！
〃To rub HIS eyes whene'er they ache … To wear HIS baldness ere
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Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
Fifty 〃Bab〃 Ballads … Much Sound and Little Sense
His eyeballs glistened in his eyes … I sat and watched and smoked my
pipe； 〃Bravo！〃 I said； 〃I recognize The phrensy of your prototype！〃
His scanty hair he wildly tore： 〃That's right；〃 said I； 〃it shows your
breed。〃 He danced … he stamped … he wildly swore … 〃Bless me； that's very
fine indeed！〃
〃Sir；〃 said the grand Shakesperian boy （Continuing to blaze away）；
〃You think my face a source of joy； That shows you know not what you
say。
〃Forgive these yells and cellar…flaps： I'm always thrown in some such
state When on his face well…meaning chaps This wretched man
congratulate。
〃For； oh！ this face … this pointed chin …This nose …this brow …these
eyeballs too； Have always been the origin Of all the woes I ever knew！
〃If to the play my way I find； To see a grand Shakesperian piece； I
have no rest； no ease of mind Until the author's puppets cease。
〃Men nudge each other … thus … and say； 'This certainly is
SHAKESPEARE'S son；' And merry wags （of course in play） Cry 'Author！'
when the piece is done。
〃In church the people stare at me； Their soul the sermon never binds； I
catch them looking round to see； And thoughts of SHAKESPEARE fill
their minds。
〃And sculptors； fraught with cunning wile； Who find it difficult to
crown A bust with BROWN'S insipid smile； Or TOMKINS'S unmannered
frown； 〃Yet boldly make my face their own； When （oh； presumption！） they
require To animate a paving…stone With SHAKESPEARE'S intellectual
fire。
〃At parties where young ladies gaze； And I attempt to speak my joy；
'Hush； pray；' some lovely creature says； 'The fond illusion don't destroy！'
〃Whene'er I speak； my soul is wrung With these or some such
whisperings： ''Tis pity that a SHAKESPEARE'S tongue Should say such
un…Shakesperian things！'
〃I should not thus be criticised Had I a face of common wont： Don't
